How to outrun the flu

Enough sleep and a good diet are the first defenses against the flu. (Emily Robson, THE MORNING…)

February 03, 2013|By Alisa Bowman, Special to The Morning Call

My running partner asked me if I'd been to New York City recently on business.

"I'm trying not to go there right now," I answered.

"Why?" she wondered.

"I don't want to be around so many people, especially on the bus. I'm trying not to catch the flu."

After all, it's not as if you can just avoid sick-looking people. People are contagious long before they start sneezing, snorting and sweating. Healthy seeming people are just as likely — perhaps even more so — to give you the flu virus as sick-looking people.

I'm not normally this nervous about germs, but back in December I caught the month-long cold that's almost as bad as the flu. If you've had it, you know of which I speak. I'm not in the mood for more. Though the flu outbreak might be easing, the Lehigh Valley still remains hard hit. Even people who got the flu shot are telling me that they now have the flu.

That's why I'm avoiding everyone, as avoiding crowds is one of the top things you can do to avoid catching the flu. Washing your hands religiously is another.

I asked wellness consultant Brett Blumenthal, author of "A Whole New You," what she does to prevent the flu. This is what she told me.

Get sufficient sleep: Sleep is instrumental to keeping your immune system functioning properly.

Up your intake of fruits and vegetables: Fruits and veggies are high in antioxidants, which naturally boost the immune system, she says. Reach for berries, pink grapefruit, and blueberries. Flu-fighting vegetables include tomatoes, broccoli and sweet potatoes. And yellow-orange fruits and dark green vegetables, such as apricots, carrots, pumpkin, kale, spinach, squash and mango, are also helpful, she says.

Stay clear of sugar: Studies have shown that too much sugar in one's diet can have a dramatically negative impact on the immune system and the body's ability to fight infection.